What questions should I ask the doctor?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hiello, I have not been diagnosed with any disease, but doctor said an immune disease is possible. It's a difficult situation, and I was wondering what questions I should ask the doctor (I'm seeing another one) to get to the cause of my symptoms.
Symptoms: fatigue, memory and concentration issues, constipation, flatulence, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, itchy skin all over, cold intolerance. Colonscopy and endoscopy was normal. No celiac disease or gastrointestinal diseases except eosinophilic esophagitis and reflux. Thyroid normal. Vitamins and minerals normal. Doctor said rheumatic diseases were not a possiblity, but would not rule out autoimmune diseases. I don't know if one can completely rule out rheumatic diseases though. Any help here would be great.
IgG 12.0 referance range(6.1 -14.9)
IgA 1.4 (0.7 -3.7)
IgM 2.8 (0.4 - 2.1)
RF-latextest >450 (<20)
ANTICCP <1 (<7)
ANA NEG (NEG)
ANCA Performed ( - )
MPO-ANCA <0.3 (<3.5)
PR-3-ANCA 0.6 (<2.0)
0 likes, 8 replies
rocky31676 Anonymousman
Posted
RF is very high, a red flag,
IgM is for what virus?
Anonymousman rocky31676
Posted
According to my memory, eosinophile count has always been normal, even before diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis. I was diagnosed via biopsy that showed eosinophilic cells in esophagus. I do not know why IgM is elevated and why RF is, but doctor said it's some immune reaction to something. He thinks it's food related, so I'm eliminating wheat and dairy. So far flatulence and bloating has improved, but fatigue is the same (one week into it). He wants me to do this for 2 months, but I want to make sure other things are ruled out too. I have to be efficient here and make sure things are happening even while I'm doing this diet, instead of waiting 2 months and then start ruling out. Because if I end up being referred to a specialist, then it takes months to get that appointment such that if I make sure the referral happens now I can get there sooner. Hope this makes sense
rocky31676 Anonymousman
Posted
However, your eosinopil count would be elevated (makes sense?) otherwise it wont be called eosinophilic esophagitis, because the biopsy also showed this.
IgM is an antibody test, so you shoud find out that antibody it is against.
Anonymousman rocky31676
Posted
Blood tests showed normal eosinophilic count, but the biopsy showed eosinophilic cells, so although the blood test didn't pick it up, the biopsy did. As I said, doctor said it was probably related to food, so I think he believes the antibodies are in response to the food.
Sarge13 Anonymousman
Posted
Have your GP refer you to an Immunologist.
Anonymousman Sarge13
Posted
Anonymousman
Posted
I wanted to update to say that I had CRP and ESR tests taken. CRP was normal and < 5. SR was normal and < 3. This is really confusing because literally everything else is normal except for RF and IgM so it's very difficult to find a cause, and I keep doubting there is one, although the doctor has reassured me there definitely is something going on
AnotherPatient Anonymousman
Posted
I would say just to ease the RF factor https://www.rheumatoidarthritis.org/ra/diagnosis/rheumatoid-factor/
Basically the top points :In certain cases, however, patients may test positive for rheumatoid factor and remain healthy never to experience symptoms.
Rheumatoid factor can be present in patients several months or even years before clinical rheumatoid arthritis symptoms develop.
Then the tingling and cold: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/basics/definition/con-20022916
Perhaps even :http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/dxc-20313870
or some sort of overlap disease....
Meaning perhaps Raynauds and Carpal Tunnel.
Just keep testing ???